Like a lot of people, I’ve spent a lot of the last 18 months doom-scrolling (who had heard that word before 2020?) on Twitter.
That’s certainly one of the potential downsides of such social media platforms: they can bring a torrent of bad news pouring down on our heads, which could arguably leave us more vulnerable to feeling helpless and even depressed.
But I’ve also connected with dozens, if not hundreds of kind souls on ‘the bird app’ as well, and even developed friendships with people I have never seen in real life.
Here’s what I learned about the risks and benefits of social media for those of us who’ve reached the half-century mark while writing this piece for Good Times’ October 2021 issue: ‘Social Media: Good or Bad?’
A big thank-you to the interviewees who so kindly shared their stories and expertise:
- Lisa Brandt, a London, Ont., voiceover professional and author of five books.
- Helen Bratzel of Windsor, Ont.
- Beth Campbell-Duke of Victoria, BC., a science educator and transplant family caregiver who helps other patients and families navigate the health system through her business navigatinghealthcare.ca .
- Dr. Kelly Murphy, a psychologist at Baycrest Health Sciences in Toronto.
- Dr. Adam Kassam, president of the Ontario Medical Association. He is also a physiatrist and clinical associate at Runnymeade Healthcare Centre and Athlete’s Care in Toronto, and a faculty lecturer at the University of Toronto’s Division of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.
- Pat Rich, a social media health care commentator and writer based in Ottawa.
- Wade Sorochan, author of (Un)Social Media: Virtual World Causing Real World Anxiety (2016),and owner of Wade Sorochan Communications in Edmonton.